OVER SEAS -- The Online Magazine for Sustainable Seas

Cebu

CRMP’s primary learning area in Cebu Province is located east of Mactan on the islands of Olango, Sulpa, Nalasuan, Hilutungan, Caohagan, Camungi and Pangan-an, an area covering 1,015 hectares and a coastline of 55 km with 11 barangays and an estimated population of 22,779 people (1995). Olango, in particular, is a developed tourism area largely known for its sandy beaches and as a bird sanctuary. Twice a year from September to November and from February to April, 48 species of migratory birds flock to this small island, enriching the area’s already rich fauna (49 resident avian species, including 7 of unconfirmed origin) and drawing tourists from around the world. But live reef fishing remains the major source of income and, like many small islands whose inhabitants are highly dependent on the sea for livelihood, Olango, as well as the smaller islands nearby, is suffering from declining fish catch resulting from over-fishing and habitat destruction. People are aware of the problem and what causes it: Up to 67% of respondents in a recent survey believed the decline in fish catch would continue in the face of unabated cyanide and blast fishing. CRMP is doing the spadework designed to turn such high level of awareness into concrete actions for sound and sustainable coastal resource management.

Eucheuma’s Promise
A Seaweed Task Force composed of the Lapu-Lapu City Agriculturist, the Municipal Agricultural Officer of Cordova, a representative from the community, and CRMP Enterprise Development Specialist Monette Flores, Learning Area Coordinator Ma. Fe Portigo and seaweed expert Ruben Barraca has been formed for the southern waters of Olango (especially around Pangan-an and Hilutungan). A half-hectare pilot farm will be set up in Pangan-an, for which the government of Lapu-Lapu City committed P60,000 in seed money.

LAC Portigo said the Task Force is promoting the culture of the seaweed species Eucheuma cottonii. "This species enjoys higher demand and commands a higher price than the Eucheuma spinosum, which is now being cultured in Hilutungan. Moreover, it has a longer shelf life of two years, compared to the E. spinosum which can be stored for only two months."

The seaweed farmers will be organized into a marketing cooperative, Portigo added. "This way, they can sell their produce directly to processors and do not have to go through a middleman."

Sub-See Experience
Thirty youngsters from several coastal communities in Cebu were treated last March 7 to a free cruise on board the Poseidon, a semi-submersible seacraft which allows underwater viewing of the marine environment. The cruise was facilitated by CRMP "to give young people the experience of seeing for themselves marine life in its natural environment," said Portigo. In a post-cruise discussion, the youth talked about their experience and what they’d seen -- as Portigo put it, "what was there and what was supposed to be there that they did not see."

"The young people, especially in our learning area in Olango, have long been aware and concerned about the issues facing their communities," Portigo noted. "This is why we’re encouraging them to get involved, to formulate their own action plans and think about what they could do, within their own resources and capabilities, to help promote the coastal environment’s sustainability."

Meanwhile, Olango is expecting two groups of special guests at the end of March. On March 27, local government officials from Zambales will visit Olango to observe CRM projects there and, on March 28, 10 delegates to the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Global Chapters Congress in Mactan will join the CRMP-organized "Olango Birds and Seascape Tour." The Birds and Seascape Tour, which will include the southern islets of Olango and the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary, is intended to generate feedback on the marketability of the area as an ecotourism destination.

Wrapping Up PCRA
Four more barangays (villages) completed their training in participatory coastal resource assessment (PCRA) between March 2 and March 22: Pangan-an, San Vicente, Tingo and Baring. Portigo said she expects all PCRA training in the whole learning area to be completed by the end of April. The exercise has already produced some positive results. In Caw-oy, Sabang ang Tongasan, which completed their PCRA training in February, consultations between the barangay council and community members on the issues raised during the PCRA have begun. In San Vicente, meanwhile, a barangay resolution on waste management is being drawn up. "As a result of their training, people are now beginning to pay more attention to coastal management and environmental issues," Portigo noted. §